Directive Telegram on Annihilating the Enemy at Huailai[1]

(December 9, 1948)

Cheng, Huang; Yang, Luo, Geng; and for information Yang, Li; Lin, Luo, Liu[2]:

(1) The 35th Army and three other divisions have fled eastward from Xinbao’an. Our Second Army Corps, with a force of six brigades, failed to block them. Two enemy divisions from Huailai are moving westward to link up with the 35th Army. It is estimated that once these five enemy divisions are assembled, they will flee eastward overnight.

(2) You must use your full strength to encircle and annihilate this enemy force in the Huailai area. By means of fierce assault, destroy two or three of its divisions, and then surround its remnants.

(3) Should this enemy force escape, you shall bear full responsibility.

(4) You should advance with the lead column and not direct operations from the rear.

Military Commission

9th, 18:00 hours

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Cheng Zihua, commander of the Second Army Corps of the Northeast Field Army, and its chief of staff, Huang Zhiyong; and Yang Dezhi, commander of the Second Army Corps of the North China Military Region, its political commissar, Luo Ruiqing, and its chief of staff, Geng Biao.

[2] Yang and Li refer to Yang Chengwu and Li Tianhuan, who at the time served respectively as commander and deputy political commissar and director of the Political Department of the Third Army Corps of the North China Military Region. Lin, Luo, and Liu refer to Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou, who at the time served respectively as commander, political commissar, and chief of staff of the Northeast Field Army.